Understanding Karl Marx's Das Kapital and its Russian Translation

The question asks for the year the first volume of Karl Marx's significant work, Das Kapital, was published in Russian.

Das Kapital (or Capital: Critique of Political Economy) is a foundational theoretical text in materialist philosophy, economics, and politics by Karl Marx. Volume I was originally published in German in 1867.

Publication History of Das Kapital Volume I

While the original publication was in German, Das Kapital was translated into many languages over time. The translation into Russian was particularly important due to the political and intellectual climate in Russia during that period.

The first volume of Das Kapital was translated into Russian by Nikolai Danielson and published in 1872. This was the first foreign language translation of the work and significantly influenced Russian revolutionary thought.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the provided options:

• 1873
• 1870
• 1874
• 1872

Based on the historical facts, the first Russian translation of Das Kapital, Volume I, was indeed published in 1872.

Conclusion

Therefore, the year the first volume of Karl Marx's Das Kapital was published in Russian is 1872.

Revision Table: Key Dates for Das Kapital

Additional Information: Significance of the Russian Translation

The 1872 Russian translation of Das Kapital was crucial because:

• It introduced Marx's economic theories to a wide audience in Russia.
• It became highly influential among Russian revolutionaries and intellectuals, including those who would later form the basis of the Bolshevik movement.
• Despite censorship challenges, the book circulated widely and helped popularize Marxist ideas in the country that would later undergo a major socialist revolution.

The translation was notable for its speed and impact, making Marx's critique of capitalism accessible outside of the German-speaking world for the first time.